Walking Tour | Self-Guided | ~4 hrs

Follow in the footsteps of Václav Havel—dissident playwright, last president of Czechoslovakia, and first president of the Czech Republic—through Prague’s streets, theatres, and quiet corners. This curated walk traces his journey from avant-garde stages to the Prague Castle, revealing a man who shaped a nation with his words, wit, and unwavering moral compass.

This walking tour is not just a tribute to a political figure—it’s an invitation to see Prague through the eyes of a citizen who loved its stones, stories, and soul.

Suggested Route

Start: Wenceslas Square
End: Prague Castle
Distance: ~4.5 km
Time: ~3.5 hours at a relaxed pace, including stops

💡Tip 💡

Wear comfortable shoes and stop for coffee at Slavia or Café Louvre, another of Havel’s favorites.

Tour Stops

1. Wenceslas Square

2. Passage Lucerna

3. Liliová Street & Uhelný trh

4. Theatre Na zábradlí

5. Boulevard Národní & Memorial of 17 November 1989

6. Piazzetta of the National Theatre

7. Václav Havel Library

8. Café Slavia

9. Rašínovo nábřeží 2000/78 and 1980/70

10. Havel’s Place, Maltézské náměstí

11. Prague Castle – Office of the President (2nd Courtyard)

12. Bonus Stop (Outside Central Prague)

Who Was Václav Havel? (1936–2011)

Who Was Václav Havel? (1936–2011)
Václav Havel was a towering figure of 20th-century Central Europe—a playwright, dissident, and statesman whose life was deeply intertwined with the turbulent history of Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic. Born into a prominent intellectual and theatrical family in Prague, Havel was shaped by both his privileged upbringing and the harsh realities of living under a communist regime. His grandfather was a well-known builder in Prague, and his father was an engineer and essayist, instilling in Havel a strong sense of cultural responsibility and civic engagement from an early age.

Havel studied at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague and emerged as a leading playwright during the 1960s, a period known as the Prague Spring, when political liberalization briefly flourished. His absurdist, satirical plays—such as The Garden Party and The Memorandum—boldly critiqued the communist system, exposing its bureaucratic Forum during the Velvet Revolution, he played a pivotal role in the nonviolent transition from authoritarian rule to democracy. Havel was elected the last president of Czechoslovakia and, after its peaceful dissolution, became the first president of the Czech Republic. His presidency was marked by a commitment to truth, morality, and human rights, balancing political pragmatism with an idealistic vision for a just society.

Absurdities and moral hypocrisies. As a prominent intellectual dissident, Havel became deeply involved with Charter 77, a human rights manifesto that challenged the government’s violations of civil liberties. This activism resulted in repeated imprisonments and surveillance by the secret police, but Havel’s courage and wit made him a symbol of peaceful resistance.

The collapse of communism in 1989 propelled Havel to the forefront of political change. As a key leader of the Civicavel’s legacy goes beyond politics: he was a philosopher-poet who believed deeply in the power of language and dialogue to transform society. His essays and speeches continue to inspire thinkers worldwide, championing individual responsibility and the importance of living in truth. Despite his international acclaim, Havel remained profoundly connected to Prague, the city whose streets, theatres, and public spaces witnessed both his struggles and triumphs.

He passed away in 2011, leaving behind a legacy of peaceful resistance and democratic renewal that remains central to Czech identity. Václav Havel’s life story is one of unwavering integrity, courage in the face of oppression, and a belief in the possibility of a better world—values etched into Prague’s history and memory.

Prague Castle – Office of the President

Liliová

Havel’s Resting Place – Cemetery of St. Wenceslas ( Outside Prague)

Café Slavia

Boulevard Národní & Memorial of 17 November 1989

Theatre Na zábradlí

Passage Lucerna

Havel’s Place, Maltézské náměstí

Rašínovo nábřeží 2000/78 and 1980/70

Václav Havel Library

Piazzetta of the National Theatre

Wenceslas Square

In the Footsteps of Václav Havel